Applications of Computational Protein Design to Red Fluorescent Proteins

Citation

Moore, Matthew Michaels (2013) Applications of Computational Protein Design to Red Fluorescent Proteins. Dissertation (Ph.D.), California Institute of Technology. doi:10.7907/6876-A570. https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechTHESIS:09132012-234333515

Abstract

The research comprising this thesis is presented in three chapters divided into two parts. Part One, Chapters 2 and 3, of the thesis focuses on the application of rational design and CPD to the core residues of FPs. Chapter 2 applies CPD to the well known red fluorescent protein mCherry. Design hypotheses in this work were driven by a desire to red-shift the fluorescence emission of the parent protein. Chapter 3 takes the most successful results from the mCherry system and attempts to applies these results to the far-red FP mPlum. These two proteins, mCherry and mPlum, share a directed evolution parent, mRFP1. Part Two, consisting of Chapter 4, presents the beginnings of a comprehensive study into the applications CPD for designing FP surfaces. The system used is based on DsRed, the oligomeric parent of monomer mCherry. Professional and personal acknowledgments conclude the thesis.

Thesis Files